Screen for dual-intensity headlights



Oct. 11, 1932. H. FRUCHTENICHT SCREEN FOR DUAL INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS Filed July 1'7, 1931 UNITED STATES nn nnion rnfionrnmcnr, or BREMEN, GERMANY SCREEN FOR DUAL-INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS I 7 Application filed July 17', 1931-, Serial No.

This invention relates to a dimming device for such head-lights, especially for motor vehicles, which are-provided with a dazzlingand' a non-dazzling source of light.

It is known to remove dazzling sourcesof light from the vision of persons approaching the vehicle by a protecting screen adapted to be actuated from the drivers seat by electromagnetic means.

operated. source of light could be out effecting a screening.

However in'the known devices the screen must also be This resultsin that separately the dazzling switched in, with- As compared therewith in the arrangement according to the invention the switching in of the screen is positively connected with the switching in of the large head-light so that therefore in principle the large head-light can be switched in with full intensity of light and nevertheless a dazzling of persons vehicles coming in the opposite direction cannot occur.

The invention consists in that the electromagnet influencing the protecting screen is switched or series connected in the c1rcu1t of the dazzling source of light.

Further features of the invention conslst 1n the peculiar construction of the device.

The invention can be carried out 1n various manners.

Several embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows the arrangement in vertical section.

arranged in front of the head-light lamp a,

which is provided with a small illuminating element a and a large illuminating element m the screen 6 being oscillatable around an axle 0. An extension 5 of the screen coacts with an electromagnet cl.

Further for block is connected up are" successively switched in. returning of the screen the swltch lever 1s tromagnet dexcitedfor the 551,544, and in Germany March 2, 1931.

ing the screen in inoperative position, that is in swung up position, a locking lever e is provided, which is actuated by a second electromagnet fi As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the electromagnet 7 for the locking'lever e by meansv of a wire kin the circuit 9 of the large headlight illuminating body a 1 If thereforethe head-light illuminating body a is switched in by means of a switch z, the electromagnet freceives current and the locking, lever e is. switched off. The screen 6 can drop into dimming position by means of gravity. The. switch-i serves in known manner also for switching in the small illuminating body a. If the large head-light is switched out, the circuit Z of the electromagnet d can be switched in by actuating a second switch is so that by the action of the electromaget d onthe extension I)" '70 of the screen b-this is returned into inoperative position or swung upwards.

The locking lever e is preferably acted upon by a spring'e so that, when it is re"- leased from the'electromag'net f, it again fixes the screen in swung up position.

Fig. 2 shows in dot-dash lines that the two switches z, 79 can also be positively connected, for example by a rod m so that they aresimultaneously controlled. Asshown in F ig. 8f a'single switching lever 2' may be employed for switching in the mag net, which lever leads successivelyover a plurality of connecting contacts n, n, n for the small illuminating body over the magnet d and the magnet f to the large illuminating body. Consequently first the small illuminatingbody, then the electromagnet d and then the electromagnet f for serving the looking lever with the large illuminating body Sm During the first released and the large head-light illuminating body switched out and then the elecu purpose of swinging up the screen.

' In the form of construction illustrated in Fig. 4 a separate contact n 'is provided for the electromagnet f. Thus, when the switch 41 is actuated,- the small head-light is switched- 1 7 light by closing the contact n f in by the closing of the contact n, then successively the magnets d and f by closing the contacts n, n and finally the large head- In the arrangement as in Figure 4: the electromagnet f, which in the forms of construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is continuously energizedso long as the full intensity of the head-light exists, is out of circuit whereby current is economlzed.

In the construction illustrated incross sec tlon in Fig. 5, a soleno d 0 ;serves 'foractuating the release and oscillation'of the screen 7), the solenoid first, releasingthe locking lever 6 during the excitation, that is, when the large head-light 1 illuminating body is switched Forthis purpose the locking lever e is constructed as an'elbow lever. 1 shiftablesolenoid core '0' is hingedly. connected to the'lever e by means'of a slot guide ,p. Further the extended solenoid core 0.

engages by'means of a slot guide 9 a pin r of the extension I) of the screen 7). During the shifting of thesolenoid core 0",-owing to the excitement of the] solenoid "0 the screen Z is first released and then oscillated;

Obviously, for economy in Wiring, ground returns maybe used in the-various circuits,

one'terminal of each instrumentality being suitably-connected to the metal work of the automobile in accordance with the usual construction in such cases.

0f the'liight upon energization of 7 said magnet,

' By means of'the invention the'advantage is obtained that it is not possible toreturn the screen into inoperative position, that is to swing same upwards, as long'asthelarge head-light illuminating bodyiburns. Mistakes cannot be made by the operation Further the switching in of the large head-light illuminating body results in a releasing of the screen so thata reliabledimming of the large head-light light 'is'obtained during its switchinginj a j I of the light rays from The filament arrangement, a

extene ment to the reflector and above the lamp and movable to drop in front of theupper part the lamp, an extension on said shade extending rearwardly of its pivot point and forming a transversely elongated armature, a magnet underneath one end of the" armature andzpositioned'to attract the armature'and raise the. shade uponenergization of said magnet, a latch for engaging the remaining end of the armature "upon the armature' being attracted by .themagnet, anelectromagnet for releasing isaid latch, circuit w lamp and; magnets,

connections through said I and meansforclosing circuits through the second magnet and the high intensity portion of the 'filament' "at one time and for closing circuits through the first magnet and the lowintensity portion of the filament arrangement at anotherj time.

3. In a headelight, a reflector, an 'electric lamp atthe focus of the reflector and having a dual, intensity filament arrangement, 1a shade pivoted v forfvertical swinging move ment to the reflector and abovethe'lamp and movable to d'ropin front of. the upper-part of the light raysfrom the lamp, an extension onsaid. shade extending rearwardly ofaits pivot point and forming a transversely elongated armature, a magnet underneath one end of-tlie-armature and positioned'to attract the armature a'nd'raise the shade upon energization offsaid -magnet,"a latch for engaging the remaining end of'the armature upon the armature being-attracted by the magnet, and electromagnetic means for successively releaslng said latch and causing downward movement of the shade;

In testimony "whereof Iaifix'my signature. I I-IEINRI'GH FRUCHTENICHT,

attract the, armature and raise the shade a latch for engaging the remaining end of the arma a dual intensity filament arrangement, a shade pivoted for vertical swinging" moveture upon the armaturebeing attracted by "the magnet, and electromagnetic means for releasing said latch. t 7

4 2;In a head-light, a refiector, an electric lamp at the focus of the reflector and having 

